TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE … # 108

Terry bundled up, then made his way out to the truck for the thermos. Back inside, he opened it, and the smell of coffee filled the room.

“Is it still hot?” Ghost asked.

Terry poured some out into the lid, and took a sip. “It’s not real hot, just kinda warm, but it tastes good…here, have some.”

Ghost took the cup and drank.

“Do y’all have some Tylenol or something? You need to take some to get your fever down, and if we can get Steve awake enough, he needs some, too,” Terry said.

“There’s some in yonder, but I never take that. Maybe I can wake Steve up, so he can.”

“What do you mean, you don’t take it?” Terry asked.

“It makes me sick…I need a potion or something.”

Terry was skeptical about that. “Well, I don’t have any potions, so guess you’ll have to take the Tylenol, this time,” he said, and went to find it.

Ghost jiggled Steve a bit. Dipping his own finger into the coffee, he put it to Steve’s lips. “Here, Steve, it’s coffee. It’s time to wake up, now.” He raised Steve’s head a little, hoping that would help, and it did, a little. Steve mumbled something, and turned his head back and forth.

Terry came running back into the kitchen. “Steve, wake up, we’re here with you. Try to stay awake.” He helped prop him up some more.

Steve came around a little, “Terry…what?”

“Man, you had us scared. You fell and hit your head. Here, you need to take these,” Terry said, and held out the pills, while Ghost poured more coffee.

“My head hurts,” Steve said, slurring his words.

“Yeah, so take these…Ghost, put them in his mouth, then I’ll pour coffee in…maybe he can swallow it.”

Ghost pushed the pills into Steve’s mouth, and with the coffee, he did manage to get them down.

“That’s nasty,” Steve said, gagging.

“Keep it down, it’ll make you feel better,” Terry said.

Ghost couldn’t wait any longer, so he gave Steve a big hug. “Don’t be dead anymore, Steve.”

“What?”

“Nothin’ man,” Terry said, “you was just knocked out for awhile. Ghost thought you were dead…but, good news… you’re not!” He tried to lighten the mood a little. “You’re gonna be ok, soon as we get you to a doctor, and all.”

Steve was confused. “Why do I…?” And, then he screamed.

Ghost fell back, covering his ears, and screamed, too. Terry almost dropped Steve back down on the floor, but managed to hold on. Steve kept screaming, as the pain from his broken leg registered to his senses.

“Make him stop!” Ghost screamed, just as loud, making his throat hurt more.

“Water?” Ghost looked all around the kitchen. “Where’s water? The pipes are all frozen.”

“There’s a bottle of water somewhere in this house…now go find it…hurry, and stop your screaming, it don’t help.”

Ghost could barely get up, he was so sore, but he did get some control over himself, and looked into the refrigerator, where he did find a bottle. He grabbed a dishtowel and poured the water onto it. Terry put it on Steve’s forehead and cheeks. He’d passed out again.

“Now, the pills should help. At least when he’s out, he’s not feeling the pain.” Terry said. Looking at Ghost, he asked, “You gonna be ok, now?”

Ghost nodded. “It scared me, that’s all.”

“Yeah, me too,” Terry said. He went back to the living room to calm himself down. He opened the front door to let in some fresh air. It was cold, but it did clear his head.

“Ghost, come here…get some air. Steve’ll be ok for a little while.”

They went out on the porch, kicking some of the snow away. The sun was out, and there were drips coming off the roof and trees.

“It’s warming up some. Guess maybe I should go on and try to get back to town,” Terry said. “Maybe they’re plowing the streets already.” He looked over at Ghost, who hadn’t moved, since coming outside. He was just standing there, with his eyes closed, breathing in the cold air.

“Ghost?”

“They’re coming.”

“Who’s coming?”

“I feel ’em coming…it won’t be long,” Ghost said.

“You do? Is it Kinsey, or the doctor, or snowplows?”

“It’s all of them,” Ghost said.

Just then, they heard a tinkling from inside the house. They stared at the door. “The phone!” they both said, at the same time. They lunged toward the door. Terry grabbed it. “Hello?” He listened a minute. “Thank God, yeah, ok,” he then ended the call.

“That was Kinsey…you’re right, they’re coming…all of them, and they should be here pretty soon. The plow is making a path for Kinsey and an ambulance.”

Ghost went to tell Steve. He was still out of it, but Ghost talked to him, anyway. “Steve, help is coming really soon. They’ll fix you up. I’m sorry I screamed. You’ll be ok, now.” He sat beside Steve, holding onto his hand.

“I hear them…they’re on your road,” Terry yelled, from the living room. They were quiet, while they listened for the rumble of the snowplow.

“I’m sorry I screamed, Terry, I didn’t mean to. Thank you for staying with us last night.”

“Don’t worry about it, everything will be ok, now. When they get here, I want them to look at you, too. You still have a fever.”

Ghost nodded, “Ok.”

“Hey, they’re here!” Terry said. He went out to the porch to meet them, and let them in.

As Kinsey came up on the porch, he asked, “How is he?”

“Not good, Kinsey. I gave him some Tylenol, and then the pain hit him, and he passed out again. He’s got a high fever, too. Oh, tell them to look at Ghost, too…he’s got strep throat, or something, and a fever.

The ambulance EMT crew rushed in, going to work on Steve, checking his head wound, and leg, and starting an IV. “We’ll take him in to the hospital, in Raleigh. They’ll have to set his leg,” they said, as they loaded Steve onto a stretcher.

“I’m going, too,” Ghost said.

“Check him out, too,” Terry said.

“Y’all taking them to Raleigh?” Kinsey asked.

“Yeah, the highway is pretty clear, now…it’s just these smaller roads that are still snowed in. We’ll let you know what happens after we get there.”

“Ok, my phone’s working now…here’s the number,” Kinsey said.

“You want me to follow them out there?” Terry asked.

“You don’t have to,” Kinsey said. “They’ll take care of them, and I’ll go in later. You can go with me then.”

“Ok, I’ll get back home, then…call me,” Terry said. He got into his truck to leave. The snowplow had already left, and the ambulance was just going off down the road. Kinsey came out, locking the door. He waved to Terry, and went back home, too.

***

Next part coming soon!

Thanks for visiting! Peace }i{

***

This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative liscense is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, muscians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblence.

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The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.